High and Low

for soprano and piano

High and Low (2013) is four song cycle on poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay and John Grimmett that in its musical journey brings together several very different sound worlds. From the Laurel Canyon 60s folky opening number “Afternoon on a Hill” to the chilling operatic drama of “distance is crueler…” to the Schubert/ Iron Maiden inspired Halloween favorite that “Wraith” turned out to be. The cycle closes with “Only Until this Cigarette is Ended”, a sassy little cabaret song that would make even the great Liberace himself blush with delight. The cornerstone of this cycle is the song “distance is crueler than the coldest february”, a setting of a poem by librettist/playwright/composer John Grimmett. This was the follow up to our work together on Part of the Act for Washington National Opera and composed that same winter. High and Low was premiered by soprano Jennifer Piazza-Pick and pianist Dr. Cheryl Cellon Lindquist on CMASH concerts held at Our Lady of the Lake University and Trinity University in San Antonio, TX.